Indigenes of Urum in Awka, Anambra State have protested alleged high handedness of their traditional ruler, Igwe B O Nweke, and the sales of communal lands in the community.
Indigenes of the community were at the government house, Awka on Wednesday to protest the activities of the royal fathers, stating that they have for long tolerated the nefarious activities of the monarch, and that mission to the government house was to ask for his sack.
Though no government official was on hand to address the protesters, security agents were also on hand to forestall a breakdown of law and order as they denied the protesters entry into the government house.
An elder of the community, Sir Charles Nwankwo told journalists that, “We are here to protest the sales of our community lands by the traditional ruler of our community. For a long time, we have kept quiet and watched him sell off our community lands.
“We want the governor to come to our aide, help us recover our lands, and to also remove him as the traditional ruler of the community. We are no longer safe with him as the monarch of our community.”
Another protester, Mr Henry Nwoye said that the community is tired of the high handedness of the monarch, as he has been using his powers to tell off lands belonging to the community to other communities.
“Just last week, our neighbouring community, Isuaniocha were here to protest against this same monarch, he has been selling our land to them and I think his major aim is to bring us to a collision with the other communities. Thank God the others realized it early enough.”
The protesters carried several placards which depicted their grouse against their traditional ruler, including, “we no longer want Igwe BO Nweke, Government should come to our rescue, Sack Nweke now,” among others.
ENDS.
